SHAFAQNA – Iran’s FM spokesman Bahram Ghasemi reacted to decision by Iraqi Kurdistan Region to hold an independence referendum, saying Iran’s position is to back territorial integrity and unity of Iraq.

“The Kurdistan Region is part of Iraq Republic and unilateral decisions made outside national and legal standards and framework, especially outside Iraq’s Constitution, will bring about further complications for Iraq under the critical situation in that country and region and with all the plots devised by hostile countries to maintain instability in Iraq,” Bahram Ghasemi, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman said Saturday.

Ghasemi’s remarks were in reaction to a decision by the Iraqi Kurdistan Region to hold an independence referendum on September 25. The decision has also been condemned by Turkey and Baghdad, with Turkish prime minister calling it “irresponsible” and spokesperson of the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi stressing the role of all Iraqis in deciding the future of their homeland.

Ghasemi went on to add, “a unified, stable and democratic Iraq will be a guarantor of interests of all its people from various ethnicities and religious beliefs.”

“Iraq today more than any other time needs tranquility and national consensus,” he said. “Differences between Baghdad and Erbil must be settled through talks and national agreement based on Iraq’s Constitution.”